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Spice It Up

Apr. 10, 2013|327 views

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Spices,
herbs and seasoning add flavor and interest to food. But did you know that many
are also functional foods that add value to life? Take cinnamon, for instance.
The fragrant spice harvested from the inner bark of certain Asian and
Indonesian trees (Cinnamomum
sp.) has been prized
for centuries for the zing it provides to savory and sweet dishes alike.
Cinnamon is even mentioned in the Old Testament. In the past, it was also
valued for its usefulness as a food preservative, thanks to its ability to
discourage the growth of bacteria and fungi. It’s long been used in traditional
medicine, and modern science has shown that it possesses antiviral properties.

Cinnamon
is also finding new uses as a functional food that helps maintain normal blood
sugar levels. By consuming modest amounts of cinnamon, people who are
pre-diabetic (meaning they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes) can
prevent sharp spikes in blood glucose levels, and the insulin surges that
usually follow these blood sugar oscillations. Of course, I’m not recommending
you “take the cinnamon challenge.” The Internet phenomenon, chronicled on
social media and video clip sites such as Youtube, involves ill-advised
attempts by various people to ingest a tablespoon or more of the potent powder
in one disastrous gulp.

That’s a
very, very bad idea. It can leave you gasping and sputtering at best, and it
may cause respiratory problems at worst. But a teaspoon or less of cinnamon
added (and stirred into) some no-sugar-added applesauce can be a pleasant and
effective way to help control one’s blood sugar without the need for
medications.